Structure-guided design of SARS-CoV-2 antivirals

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by SARS-CoV-2, is spreading rapidly across the world and was announced as a “global pandemic” by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11 March 2020. SARS-CoV-2 is a new member of the betacoronavirus genus and closely related to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). Insights to the molecular basis for coronavirus recognition and infection holds promise for therapy.Cryo-EM studies are now shedding light on key molecular processes including RNA replication/transcription and receptor recognition. These findings provide important insights to the molecular basis for coronavirus recognition, infection and ultimately, the design of new antiviral therapeutics.

Learning Objectives:

1. Full-length ACE2 recognition by SARS-CoV-2

2. RNA-dependent RNA polymerase nsp12 in complex with cofactors nsp7 andnsp8

3. Design of Corona-targeting antiviral medicines